The American student was visibly shaken and emotional as she briefly addressed a news conference in Seattle at around 5pm local time yesterday.

"Thank you to everyone who's believed in me, who's defended me, who's supported my family," she said, struggling to speak through tears. "My family's the most important thing to me so I just want to go and be with them, so thank you for being there for me."

Her father Curt Knox later addressed the press outside the family home and said his daughter "needed space."

"She has been in a concrete bunker for four years," he said, adding that she hoped to resume her degree course at the University of Washington at some point.

Meredith's family have meanwhile expressed frustration at Monday's verdict, saying it takes them back to "square one."

"If those two are not the guilty parties, then who are the guilty people?" Meredith's brother, Lyle Kercher, said.

The prosecution in the case have indicated they may appeal the overturned verdict at Italy's Supreme Court, but there is no sign yet as to when or how this would take place.